Newton's First Law

PIRA classification 1F

First law: The velocity of a body remains constant unless the body is acted upon by an external force. Another way of saying it is an object will remain (in motion or still) until an external force is applied.

28 Demonstrations listed of which 12 are grayed out.

Grayed out demonstrations are not available or within our archive and are under consideration to be added.

1F10. Measuring Inertia

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

1F10.10

Inertia Balance

Place masses on a platform supported by horizontal leaf springs.

1F10.12

Inertia Oscillation

A puck between two springs rolling on Dy-lite beads is timed with several different masses.

1F10.13

Inertia Balance w/Strobe

Use a stroboscope to measure the period of an inertia balance.

1F10.20

Inertia Bongs

Two large cylinders or blocks are suspended, one wood (3Kg) and one iron or steel (50Kg). Students compare displacements when struck by a hammer or just push the things around.

1F20. Inertia of Rest

A heavy ball is suspended by a piece of string with two pieces of string hanging off the bottom, all pieces being identical. One bottom string is yanked with a quick, hard jerk resulting in it breaking while the other is pulled slowly resulting in the top string breaking.

1F20.13

Inertia Stick

A long stick is supported from rings of filter paper at each end. Break the filter paper with a pull or the stick with a jerk.

1F20.15

Inertia Block

A 50 lb or larger mass is mounted on rollers. A thread will pull it but a cotton cord rope can be broken with a quick jerk.

AKA Beaker and Cloth. A beaker partially filled with water is placed on a seamless tablecloth favoring an edge. The tablecloth is quickly yanked out from under the beaker, leaving the beaker in place without spilling any water. Thus, illustrating Newton's first law.

A ball is placed on a larger cart or dolly, the two being brought to a constant speed. When the larger cart is brought to a sudden stop, the ball flies forward with the original speed in the same direction due to the ball's kinetic inertia.

1F30.50

Pencil and Plywood

Place a pencil in a brass tube hooked to a fire extinguisher. Fire the pencil into a 1/2" plywood board.